Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Andrew Kremor said lowering the lake provided the best means of controlling the highly invasive water weed egeria densa but it would also allow other maintenance work to be completed.
“Lowering the water level in the lake to control this invasive waterweed is a necessary operation that occurs every three to five years,” Dr Kremor said.
“Lake Mulwala is a popular waterskiing and boating spot, and the waterweed can make it difficult to launch boats, fish, swim or waterski without getting tangled in the weed.
“The last time the lake was lowered was in 2018 and since then the weed has become dense so it’s important that we act this winter to improve the condition of the lake to support the community, businesses and the health of the lake itself.
“In order to kill the waterweed, we need to expose it to the air and winter frosts which we will do by lowering the lake by five metres below operating level and holding that level for about a month.
“We expect to bring the lake back to its regular operating levels by early August.”
The MDBA said it had consulted with the local angling and waterski clubs, irrigators, local councils, the Yorta Yorta Traditional Owners, tourism and hospitality operators, NSW and Victorian government agencies and others to confirm the best date.
Goulburn-Murray Water’s Martina Cusack said lowering the water level would expose large areas of the lake bed, allowing for a range of works to be conducted.
“We plan to use this opportunity to carry out maintenance under and around the bridge including pylon inspection, as well as lake retaining wall works and erosion repairs,” Ms Cusack said.
“It also offers an excellent opportunity for residents around the lake to carry out inspections and maintenance on their own infrastructure, such as jetties, boat ramps, retaining walls and pipe intakes.”
More information on the progress of the drawdown will be available on the MDBA website.
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